Post your going back to work tips here

[CarrieMumsnet]

We have some "expert" tips on going back to work from Philips AVENT?S first baby feeding and wellbeing advisor which you can read here but we'd also love to get your top tips on how you coped if/when you went back to work after giving birth.

Everyone who sends a tip will be entered into a prize draw to win a Philips SENSEO Pod Coffee Maker (RRP £50) and a Philips Aluminum Juicer (RRP £100).

Good luck

(now just give me a minute to add this link (and the other site stuff one) to the Philips AVENT mini site before you all go looking at it ) Thanks!

[CodDickinson]

dont presuem it will be bad.
i didnt cry at all
and was so surised. everone said "oh poor oyu that will eb tough" apaprt from my sister hwo said" oh youll love it and baby will eb fine"

and i did, and he was.
so BE POSITIVE to mums hwo ARE goin back.

[Fennel]

If still breastfeeding take a spare shirt in case of sudden leakage. It happened to me on my first day back, I thought I was doing so well til I spotted the two damp patches.

Practise leaving your baby with people so the first day back at work isn't the first day you've been apart for more than 5 minutes.

Pencil in some positive things about going back to work - lunch with friends, or a shopping trip on the way home, or just a coffee at your desk. Then enjoy them.

I also found it a pleasure going back to work, quite early, each time.

[Fennel]

Remember, work time is time paid to mumsnet without the distraction of a baby

[RubySlippers]

i went back when DS was 6 months old to work fulltime

The anticipation of going back is usually much worse

the best thing i found was being really happy with DS's nursery - if you aren't happy with your childcare then you won't be happy at work as you will be worrying about it

make sure you have arranged a settling in period with your childcare provider so you are all happy and know what to expect

pack bags for everyone the night before

arrange (if poss) to go in a few mins later than normal to work on the first day back so you don't feel too under pressure

give yourselves at least 3 months to really settle in and get into the routine of getting out of the house

be kind to yourself those first few days and weeks - it is ok to either feel totally joyous or crappy or a mixture of those feelings!

oh and ignore raised eyebrows and snotty comments about your choices because they are the right ones for you and your family

[Anonymama]

Wear a dressing gown over your work clothes until you leave the house.

Allow an extra 10mns for that last-minutes pooey nappy that your young one will produce.

[EffiePerine]

Enjoy the time you will have to have a coffee/go to the shop/sit down in peace

If you're expressing, make sure the door is lockable or get a sign to hang on the doorknob - you do not want the post chap to walk in on you when you are swearing and sniffing cos you're milk supply has gone down

Again, if you're bfing you don't HAVE to express loads of times a day - see what you can manage

Make sure you get plenty of rest in the early days/weeks to adjust

Make the most of your time at home - don't rush around doing housework

Remember to spend some of your hard-earned cash on YOURSELF

And yes, it can be easier than you think.

[EffiePerine]

your not you're

[stealthsquiggle]

Make plans A,B,C & D for what you will do if when your LO is ill in the first few weeks back.

Plan A - especially if you are going back to the same job/manager - warn them, especially if they don't have DC themselves, that there is a high probability they will get bugs in their first few weeks at childminder/nursery

Plan B - keep some holiday (I tacked too much of mine on to the end of mat leave and was left v. short of options)

Plan C - if it is at all practicable for you to work from home on occasion, get set up for it now so that you can test it out before you have to do it in an emergency.

Plans D,E, etc - line up those emergency childcare favours!! If your LO is really ill then obviously you want to be with them but if they are fine but can't go back to nursery/whatever because (for example) they have to stay home for 48 hours after D&V stops, then grandparents/friends/other relations really come into their own

Other than that - remember to enjoy all the good things about working and try not to talk about your LO all the time to your colleagues

[peacemakeruk]

Funnily enough EffiPeriene (or not as a the case is) that happened to me a couple of weeks ago, someone walked in on me - and yes, I've had a few tears at the way the amount of milk I'm expressing is gradually going down for no apparent reason

[Botbot]

Think about how lovely it will be to have lunch on your own, even if it's at your desk.

If you have any worries in the early weeks, call the nursery or childminder and don't feel bad about it.

Give the commute a try before you go back - I soon realised I hadn't factored in enough time for changing trains and had to cut back my hours slightly to get to the nursery in time to pick dd up.

If commuting by public transport, get some good books in or load up your ipod, and treat it as special 'me' time rather than a chore.

Don't listen to anyone else's opinions on your work/childcare situation.

Do a load of washing per evening so it doesn't pile up at the weekends - soon becomes second nature.

Work really hard in the first few weeks so your boss realises you are just as committed as you were before you went on maternity leave. Then stealthily start Mumsnetting .

[EffiePerine]

peacemaker the drop in supply is normal as far as I can see - DS made up for it by feeding more at night. I think I managed to express a ridiculous amount like 18-20oz on my first day - it was down to 5-6 by the time I stopped expressing (when DS was 10 months). I also found it fluctuated day to day as well. Try not to worry: your LO will learn to adapt

[EffiePerine]

Def iPod. I now look forward to my hour of sitting on a bus

[Fennel]

Make sure your DP/DH realises that you're going back to work - it'll be a lot easier if both of you are doing your share of the homework and childcare.

[Flame]

Drop off child - then do make up!!

[llareggub]

Lower your housekeeping standards or get a cleaner

[OliviaMumsnet]

Bump!

[barbara3]

Keep some annual leave if you have it to carry over to help when your little one catches all the bugs - carers leave does not stretch as far as you would think. When back at work enjoy your brain engaging in different tasks, the adult conversation and themoney you are making which can then be spent on yourself or your little ones or holidays. I agree with being 100% happy with your childcare - if its right you will be happy. My little one has always loved nursery not one day of looking back with tears as we say goodbye - making it harder for me to cope with but better that way!

[Littlefish]

If you can afford it, definitely agree with getting a cleaner or having your ironing done.

I didn't take a picture of dd with me to work for the first few months. I needed to separate my home life from my work life. Made it much easier emotionally on me.

Pack all bags, lay out all clothes the night before.

Think about how long it will take you to get out of the house in the morning and add at least 50%!

Do a trial run of the getting up/dropping with childminder or nursery/getting to work routine a week before you go back.

[robinpud]

Don't try and be superwoman. Sit down and talk through the realities of you working with your dp. Ensure that responsibilities are shared, ((Even if it means training them subtly !)) This gets more important as life gets more complicated as children get older and start having their own social lives etc,so start early.

[gladders]

Make sure everyone at work knows what hours you will be working (including colleagues) before you go back - avoids raised eyebrows and 'leaving early then are you??' comments when you return...

Try and get dp/dh to agree to at least one night a week when he will collect children so that you can go out/go shopping/do what YOU want for a change Do this EARLY and stick with it - if you give an inch he will take a mile!

like everyone has said, enjoy the journey to work (read a book/have a coffee) - it's time all to yourself.... ditto for lunch - make sure you treat yourself to something nice at least once in a while.

use Mumsnet as much as possible ...

[catkinisamummynow]

On a Sunday evening (or other convenient weekend time!) plan your evening meals for the whole family for the coming week. Ensure you have all ingredients so you're not stressed about it during the week. Even better, make up large portions of pasta sauce, chilli, casserole etc so you have something easy to hand that's healthy and filling when you can't really be bothered to cook. But don't feel guilty at all if you resort to takeaway or ready meals once in a while!
Most importantly, find a meal planning/preparing routine that works for you and your family that you're happy with.

[love2sleep]

Agree a set of jobs for DH to do the night before and in the morning. My DH is great at doing the things on his list but rubbish at noticing other things that need doing.

If expressing, I would also have a tub of formula to hand so that you can top up if necessary. Most nights I express enough for DS to have the next day but sometimes if he is really hungry I run short. If you're not happy to use formula then you'll need a backup supply in the freezer.

If you switch to formula during the day but bf in the morning and at night don't assume that you can't feed during the day at weekends. Took me ages to work this one out.

[saladsucks]

Do your shopping on-line and delivered in the evenings (someone is always in) so that weekend time is not spent doing chores.

Try to have a morning off every weekend (DH gets up with DD on Saturday mornings and I lie in and then I return the favour on Sunday mornings). It means that you both get much needed extra sleep and both get time alone with your child(ren).

Have a list for EVERYTHING so your brain doesn't explode.

Talk to your working friends (in RL or mumsnet) so that you don't feel that you're the only bad working mum in the world.

[Sidge]

Do a run to work via the nursery/childminder BEFORE you do it for the first time on the morning you go back to work. Make sure you do it at the time you normally would, so you can see if you have enough time bearing in mind rush hour/train times etc.

I had a year off after DD3, have just gone back to work and had no idea that there were so many more cars on the road since I was last driving that route! (And loads of roadworks too...)

Also do as much as possible the night before. Make lunches, bottles, defrost food etc. Pack their bag, don't forget change of clothes, put in loads more nappies than you think the childcarer will need (whatever you put in will never be enough!) and don't forget to give everyone your contact number and mobile number.

Get up really early the first few days so that you are not so rushed and stressed. Try and factor in time to have a coffee, breakfast, do your hair and makeup. It will make YOU feel better.

And don't beat yourself up about working. Remember it's quality time, not quantity time your child(ren) will remember

[lalaa]

my dd took her favourite soft toy with her to the childcare setting to start with. it provided a sense of security in an unfamiliar setting.